Combined fallboard and stop mounting



June l, 1954 J. A. KoEHl.

COMBINED FALLBOARD AND sToP MOUNTING i Filed 001;. 2, 1952 ...n w N M L4. d." H W 8 H l a L. .3@ H M Ww... 2 2 I 6 w F Patented June 1, 1954COMBINED FALLBOARD AND STOP MOUNTING James A.- Koehl, Evanston, Ill.,assigner to Central Commercial Industries, Inc., Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Delaware Application October 2, 1952, Serial No. 312,709

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined fallboard and stop support forpianos or similar musical instruments and particularly to pianosemploying means for electrically producing organ, orchestral, and othersustained and percussive tones from the instruments conventionalkeyboards. An instrument of this class is disclosed in my prior PatentNo. 2,250,065, issued July 22, 1941. The term stop as used herein hasreference to an electric switch which is usually manually operated atthe will of the player for determining the timbre of the tone desired tobeproduced. Electric and pipe organsfrequently havemany of such stopsand same are mounted upon the console in convenient reach of the playerwhere they can be drawn and restored according yas tonalities are to besuppressed or produced.

An object of the invention is the provision of a fallboard which can bereadily'adjusted from a position to uncover to a position. to cover thekeyboard as and whenfdesired, which fallboard is formed, constructed,designed and adapted to support the stops in a horizontal role above theplane of the keyboard and otherwiseso arranged that they can beconvenientlymanipulated as desired, yet -will not occupy any portion ofthe keyboard that would shorten the playing surfaces of the keys or inany way obstruct or interfere with movements ofthe hands of the player.

A still further object is the provision of a fallboard and stop mountingwhich is compact and can be readily embodied in the case of a pianowithout material alteration in the construction thereof.

A still further object is a provision of a fallboard and stop mounting,which, when adjusted to cover the keyboard, will completely house thestops and give to the case of the piano the appearance of an instrumenthaving none of the features of an electric organ.

A stiil further object is the provision of a fallboard and stopmounting, which, when adjusted to cover the keyboard, may be locked tothe case of the piano to prevent access being gained both to thekeyboard and the stops.

A still further object is the provision of a fallboard and stop mountingwhich is coactive with an on oii electric switch to break the electricalcircuit of the sustained tone producing system when closing thefallboard over the keyboard.

A still further object is the provision of a combined fallboard and stopmounting which is exceedingly simple, practical Vand of such forml andconstruction as will give to the instrument a neat and workmanlikeappearance.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionand upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse section through a portion of the case of apiano showing my improved fall and stop mounting in'its opened positionof adjustment.

Figure 2 is a view similarfto Figure l showing the fallboard closed, and

Figure 3 is a perspective View of a portion of a piano showing thefallboard opened.

In the accompanying drawings I0 represents a portion of the bed plank ofa piano; I I the playing-keys of the instruments keyboard; I2` the usualkey slip; I3 the key stop rail which limits upward pivotal motion of thekeys and I4 a structural part of the instruments case, the sameproviding with said stop rail an intervening, longitudinally disposed,forwardly facing opening I5 between these parts, the said opening havinga length substantially coextensive with that of said keyboard. By thisarrangement, it isproposed that the herein disclosed combination ofcoactive elements shall constitute a cover for the keyboard when thedevice is tilted to one possible position of angular adjustment and as ameans for supporting a system of organ stops to dispose same formanipulation as desired when the device is tilted to a second possibleposition of angular adjustment such as when the keyboard is completelyuncovered. As will be explained later in this description, thearrangement of all coactive parts of the device provides a compactkorganization of elements including a system of organ stops which will bewithin the reach of the player with no part of the device extending intothe plane of 'the keyboard where they would otherwise interfere withfree movements of the hands of the player. It is also to be noted by theherein disclosed arrangement of parts, the organ stops will be disposedin such proximity to the keyboard of the instrument as will'enable thehand of the player to operate the stops without removing the hand fromthe keyboard. It is to be further noted that when the device is tiltedto completely cover the keyboard the stop mechanism is completely housedbetween the keyboard and the coactive elements of the device.

My improved fallboard and stop mounting comprises a longitudinallydisposed casing IBor receptacle-like structure which extends throughoutthe length of the stop rail I3 and is hinged to the stop rail at Ilia toenable the casing to be tilted from the vertical opened position shownat Figure 1 to the closed position shown at Figure 2.

The casing IG is preferably rectangular in cross-section and essentiallyincludes a vertical front panel I'I, a rear panel I8, the lattersuitably spaced apart from the front panel, and top and bottom strips I9and 20.

Contained in the casing I6 is a frame 2I which contains a longitudinallydisposed bus-bar 22 which is electrically coactive with resilientcontactors 22a, one of which is shown at Figures l and 2. Withparticular reference to Figure l, it is noted that the contacter extendsfrom the hub 24 of a stop tablet 25. The casing I6 is formed at itsfront with a rectangular opening 25. Referring again to Figure l it isnoted that tablet 2|5 is positioned in opening 26 that it can beconveniently manipulated by the hand of a player seated at the keyboard.

In practice, there will be any suitable number of electric stop switchesand associated tabs as will be appreciated upon reference to Figure 3,and there will be connected to each separate contactor 22a a tone signalinput lead 26. When the tablet 25 is tilted to the dotted line positionshown at Figure l, contact 22a engages the busbar 22 and tone signalvoltage will be impressed on said bus-bar for conduction to anelectroacoustical translating system, not shown where it will beconverted into audible sound for musical expression.

Hinged at 21 to panel I8 is a panel 28 which is not as wide as panel I8but is coextensive therewith. Hinged to panel 28 as at 29 is a strip 30and hinged to strip 3D as at 3l is a strip 32. Strips 30 and 32 are ofthe same width but less than that of panel 28. To this point in thedescription, it is noted that by mounting the casing I6 in the mannerdescribed, it is free to be moved through the opening I in the front ofthe case of the piano. When the fallboard is opened, it projectsrearwardly into the case of the piano so that the front of thev casingI6 is substantially flush with the structural panel I4 of the case ofthe piano. The skirt-like portion 33 of panel I'I freely rests againstthe front face of said panel I4, thus to give to the organization anattractive workmanlike appearance. The tablets 25 are now in a verticalplane and are so situated in front of the player as to enable thetablets to be manipulated at will. The tablets are also situatedsuiiciently in back of the effective playing surfaces of the keyboard soas to not interfere with full use of the keys and with no inconvenienceto the player whatever.

When the fallboard is closed over the keyboard the casing I6 occupiesthe horizontal position shown at Figure 2, in which position, panel 28and panel I8 lie in the same horizontal plane. strips 30 and 32 arevertically disposed with the lower edge of the strip 32 resting on theupper edge of rail I2. Thus, the casing is completely forwardly disposedand forms a housing for all stop switches. In order that the opening I5will be closed when the fallboard is closed over the keyboard, strip 20has secured thereto an apron which completely covers the opening I5 asshown at Figure l.

All parts that go to form the casing I 6 may be of wood. Such of theirsurfaces that are exposed to the eye will be finished the same as thewoodwork which constitutes the case of the piano.

An instrument which makes desirable the use of stop mechanism may employany well-known type of means for producing tone signals at thefrequencies of notes associated with different keys of the keyboard of apiano. Substantially the same system can be used as is disclosed in myprior Patent No. 2,250,065. Ordinarily, such systems receive their powerfrom an alternating current line. When the line is connected in circuitwith the instrument, the stop tablets may be operated so that a tone ofany desired quality will speak at the pleasure of the player. tsometimes happens that the on off switch which controls distribution ofelectrical energy to the tone generators is accidently left on after onehas iinished playing the instrument. The fallboard adapts itself Well tomeans that will avoid any such thing happening if and when the fallboardis adjusted to a position to close the keyboard. The stop rail I3 isprovided with an electric switch S. This is located in close proximityto an adjacent cheek piece C of the case of the piano. When the casingI6 is adjusted to close the keyboard, the casing engages the stop switchso as to break the current supply circuit. In this manner, theinstrument is automatically electrically disabled until the fallboard isagain restored to an opened position.

It frequently happens with electrical instruments that children tamperwith parts that could be damaged. To avoid this, not only when thefallboard is closed but by means of the lock L, the fallboard may be sosecured to the case of the piano as to prevent its being opened exceptby an authorized person.

While I have referred to a stop strip I3, this shall not be construed asin any manner limiting the invention. A stop strip in the sense intendedherein is any portion of a piano case which is situated above the keysso as to stop the keys when they have reached their playing positionsunder the normal influence of the customary loading springs, not shown.

From the foregoing description it follows that the casing section IS ofthe device opens forwardly when the keyboard is uncovered, whereas whenthe keyboard is covered, the opening in the casing extends downwardlywhere it faces the keyboard. In this position the rear panel I3 of thecasing forms a closed back for the receptacle so that the stop mechanismis wholly concealed between said back and the keyboard when the latteris covered, all as will be understood upon reference to Figure 2 of thedrawings.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A combined keyboard cover and stop mounting for keyboard musicalinstruments, said combined cover and stop mounting comprising anorganization of hingedly connected coactive sections formed, arrangedand adapted to be tiltably mounted on the instruments case to cover thekeyboard when said organization is tilted in one direction and touncover the keyboard when said organization is tilted in an oppositedirection, one of said sections forming a hollow, receptacle, open atone side and closed at its opposite side; and an organ stop mechanismmounted in said receptacle forming section for manipulation as desiredfrom the open side thereof when the keyboard is uncovered and to bewholly housed in the space between the keyboard and the hingedlyconnected coactive sections of said organization when the keyboard iscovered.

2. A combined stop mounting and cover for the keyboard of a musicalinstrument employing a case upon which the keyboard is supported in ahorizontal playing position, the front of said case,

at a point above the plane of the keyboard and slightly rearwardly ofthe back ends of the effective playing surfaces of the keys thereofhaving a longitudinally disposed forwardly facing opening extending thefull length of said keyboard; said combined stop mounting and keyboardcover comprising a longitudinally disposed receptacle connected to saidcase for tilting adjustment through said opening from a verticalposition rearwardly of the back ends of the eiective playing surfaces ofthe keys of said keyboard to a horizontal position partly covering thekeyboard; a manually actuable stop mechanism mounted in said receptaclefor actuation from in front of the instrument when the receptacle is inthe aforementioned vertical position, and manually adjustable means onand coactive with the receptacle to completely cover said keyboard whenthe receptacle is in the aforementioned horizontal position.

3. A combined stop mounting and keyboard cover according to claim 42wherein the receptacle is provided with means for completely closing theopening in said case when the receptacle is tilted to either one of theaforementioned positions of tilted adjustment.

4. A combined mounting and cover for the keyboard of a musicalinstrument employing a case upon which the keyboard is supported in ahorizontal playing position, the front of the case, at a point above theplane of said keyboard and slightly rearwardly of the back ends of theeffective playing surfaces of the keys thereof having a longitudinallydisposed forwardly facing open ing extending the full length of saidkeyboard; said combined stop mounting and keyboard cover comprising alongitudinally disposed receptacle connected to said case for tiltingadjustment through the opening from a vertical position rearwardly ofthe back ends of the effective playing surfaces of the keys of saidkeyboard to a horizontal position partly covering the keyboard; saidreceptacle being of substantially rectangular form in cross-section andhaving a portion constituting the front of the receptacle when thelatter is in a vertical position and a portion providing a closed backfor the receptacle; a manually actuable stop mechanism mounted in saidreceptacle for actuation from in front of the receptacle when the latteris tilted to said vertical position and to be disposed between thekeyboard and the closed back of said receptacle when the receptacle istilted to a horizontal position, and means coactive with said receptacleto completely cover said keyboard and house said stop mechanism in thespace between the keyboard and the aforementioned closed back when thereceptacle is in a horizontal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 505,235 Schuhlein Sept. 19, 1893 1,486,186 Gulbransen Mar. 11,1924 2,049,616 Lilja Aug. 4, 1936 2,338,481 Batcheller Jan. 4, 19442,555,040 Jordan May 29, 1951

